Living with a small dog often means walking past a pile of blankets and not realizing the chihuahua, or Pomeranian, is burrowed deep within. After calling for the little one, the blanket might move and reveal their position.
Dogs of all sizes (and many cats, too) enjoy going deep into a burrow of blankets. The darkness helps facilitate daytime napping, and the covers offer a sense of safety. Although domesticated animals burrow for comfort, scientists have found there is an evolutionary advantage to burrowing.
Burrowing is such an important behavior that scientists have argued that without burrows, some species wouldn’t exist.
What Is a Burrow?
A burrow is a space such as a tunnel or hole that is occupied by an animal. Insects such as ants, bees, and beetles create burrows, just as arachnids like spiders and scorpions do. Burrows are also known among birds, crustaceans, centipedes and millipedes, and certain vertebrates like alligators and lizards.
